Rumen ciliates (Ciliophora, Trichostomatia) in Brazilian domestic cattle feeding on diets with crescent urea levels

Eur J Protistol. 2024 Apr:93:126063. doi: 10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126063. Epub 2024 Feb 12.

Abstract

Since their discovery, rumen ciliates of domestic cattle have been reported from various geographic locations. However, until now there is only one taxonomic inventory of ciliates associated with Brazilian cattle. The present study aimed to assess the community composition, relative abundance, richness, and density of rumen ciliates in Brazilian cattle, whose feeding diets were supplemented with crescent urea levels. Across all treatments analyzed, one subclass, two orders, three families, 11 genera, and 31 species of ciliates were identified. The ciliate community composition and species richness varied among the four treatments used. However, the total ciliate density was not affected by the experimental diets. We described a new entodiniid morphotype, Entodinium caudatum m. orbonuclearis, and recorded Oligoisotricha bubali for the second time in Brazil.

Keywords: Density of rumen ciliates; Endosymbiotic ciliates; Relative abundance; Species richness; Urea-based diets.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil
  • Cattle
  • Ciliophora*
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Humans
  • Rumen*
  • Urea

Substances

  • Urea